Juvenile Justice Collaboration Lab

Transcription

1 Juvenile Justice Collaboration Lab The American Leadership Forum of Oregon (ALF) has been committed to its mission to join and strengthen leaders in order to better serve the public good in Oregon for over 25 years. ALF continues to enhance leadership by building on the strengths of diversity and by promoting collaborative problem solving within and among communities. The Juvenile Justice Collaboration Lab (JJCL) is a recently launched initiative for ALF, building on the successful ALF Fellows multi-sector program using a more focused approach that can result in more immediate impact on an important sector in Oregon. In September 2012, ALF convened its first cohort of Fellows to participate in the JJCL, including leaders from fields of education, law enforcement, the youth correctional system, community based organizations, public defenders, the faith community, and others. The focus has been on building critical relationships among these key leaders from juvenile justice stakeholder communities in Oregon. Future target stakeholder groups will include justices The Juvenile Justice Collaboration handling juvenile cases; county prosecutors; juvenile Lab is intended to create a network detention facility managers; county juvenile departments; of leaders & other stakeholders who past juvenile offenders; communities of color; crime victims have the collaborative skills and groups, rural organizations, and more. commitment to break through barriers in the system to improve The Juvenile Justice Collaboration Lab is intended to create effectiveness, efficiency and equity. a network of leaders and other stakeholders who have the collaborative skills and commitment to break through barriers in the system to improve effectiveness, efficiency and equity. ALF believes this can be accomplished by providing the time, opportunity and ongoing support needed for leaders in the juvenile justice sector to develop and cultivate collaborative relationships, where trust and collective intelligence can arise through skillfully facilitated but open and flexible dialogue. ALF s focus is on establishing high quality relationships among key leaders and their various constituencies, building awareness of the system from multiple perspectives and, ultimately, generating collaborative solutions to issues of common concern. Joseph Jaworski, the founder of the national ALF organization and author of the book Synchronicity: The Inner Path of Leadership, has affirmed in his research that it is possible, and often even more effective, to select what he called a "strategic microcosm" of a system to work with in order to effect change in the larger whole. A focus on a sub-set of carefully selected individuals in Oregon's juvenile justice system has the very real potential to produce concentrated results that will impact the larger system.

2 A similar pilot project initiated by the ALF Houston chapter in 2010 made a meaningful difference after just one year. Last year, the Texas public defender system was established, and, according to Mike Anderson, Judge, 262nd District Court and participant in the Houston program, ALF was a key factor in finally getting the system in place. After many, many years of a cycle of talk, partisan battles, and subsequent avoidance of the issue, he said, ALF made the difference. Other participants in the Houston project - the model for Oregon's JJCL - found value in the program too: "ALF accelerated my asking why are we doing what we are doing. This process has been illuminating in many ways. As a judge, I don t get a lot of feedback. ALF helped me slow down the process - ask more questions - so we can make better decisions. Collaboration is the key." Mark Ellis, Judge, 351st District Criminal Court Harris County "I think differently now I think about who else might have a different perspective. I am talking to more people. I have changed how I do pretrial diversions, the number of hours of community service required, and how I do a plea bargain with a defense attorney. I am asking more questions." Terese Buess, Assistant District Attorney, Harris County DA s Office "The relatedness we built will help us work together on challenges we didn t focus on before. As the systems understand each other we now have an opportunity to work together. We have a great experience behind us and the opportunity ahead of us to build on this foundation. There are lots of opportunities to make improvements." Leonard Kincaid, Chief Government Relations Officer, Council on Alcohol and Drugs Houston "I now am seeing the complexity of the criminal justice system. Being in this class has made me aware that you can t judge change in one part of the system because of the impact you see in other parts of the system. We are allies in the belief that we can solve things together." Terry O Rourke, 1 st Assistant, Harris County Attorney s Office The year-long Juvenile Justice Sector Collaboration Lab in Oregon will include a five-day community building experience, during which a powerful relational foundation is formed upon which to build in the course of the program year. This week will be followed by monthly sessions centered around the ALF dialogue model, to include concepts such as collaborative change processes, partnering across difference, systems thinking, facilitative leadership, and constructively engaging conflict all overlaid with ALF's critical focus on self mastery as the first essential task of leadership. The cost of the program is $4,500, with a minimum $500 deposit required from each participant or organization upon acceptance into the program. For more information, contact Robin at ALF Oregon, , or rteater@alfo.org. l

3 Juvenile Justice Collaboration Lab - Schedule at a Glance 2013 September (Community Building Retreat) October 11 November 8 December January 17 February 21 March 21 April 11 May 9 June 13 July 18 August 15 September - Optional Retreat

4 Juvenile Justice Collaboration Lab: Brief Session Descriptions September 15-20, 2013: Community Building Experience For five days in a remote, natural setting, participants will undergo a series of individual and group challenges, dialogues, and reflection. The session provides JJCL participants with an introduction to one another and to ALF. Individuals will consider what it means to join and strengthen leadership for the common good as they learn from the diversity of their fellow classmates. Participants will learn each others stories through the sevenminute talk and we will be introduced to practices designed to nurture personal health and leadership presence. October 11, 2013: Principles and Practices of Dialogue This session introduces participants to the dynamics of conversation and the role dialogue can play in uncovering cross-sector solutions to complex community issues. ALF believes quality dialogue is often missing in important community conversations. Participants will practice identifying elements of their conversation and understand their effects. We will emphasize and practice dialogue throughout the year. November 8, 2013: Presence This session uses the practice of aikido to explore resistance, connection, power, and presence in transforming the energy of conflict into purposeful action. Participants will practice these concepts in physical ways and be invited to incorporate them into a more powerful leadership stance. December 6, 2013: Systems Change This session will explore approaches to systems change and participants will begin to articulate opportunities to apply ALF principles and practice to real world issues. January 17, 2014: Systems Dialogue I In this session we will explore elements of the juvenile justice in depth. Participants will help design the content and format of the session to develop deep understanding of an important part of the juvenile justice system. February 21, 2014: Systems Dialogue II We will continue to explore elements of the juvenile justice in depth. Participants will help design the content and format of the session to develop deep understanding of an important part of the juvenile justice system. March 21, 2014: Taking Stock In this session, participants will create personal development plans. The workshop provides an opportunity for participants to support each other s goals, and to coach each other.

5 April 11, 2014: The Art of Convening This session deepens participants practice and skill in convening diverse perspectives to generate positive outcomes. This session will begin the design of the October forum and support the efforts of other collaborative projects at work in the class. May 9, 2014: Stand & Deliver This session provides an opportunity for participants to synthesize what they have gained from their experience, appreciate their colleagues and declare their commitments to leading for improving the juvenile justice system in Oregon. June 13 - Tele-conference Class check-in and project discussions. Teleconferences will continue on a monthly basis. We may also use video conferencing as resources become available. Intent is to create an ongoing monthly forum for collaboration across the state on juvenile justice issues. July 18 - Tele-conference Class check-in and project discussions August 15- Tele-conference Class check-in and project discussions. September - Optional Class Retreat This 2-3 day retreat is designed to reconnect participants at a very personal level, provide dedicated time for final planning of the October Forum, and to review and reinforce the learning and development experienced through the program. The retreat is planned and designed by the cohort members. October 10, 2014: Network Action Forum In this forum we will discuss the various initiatives spawned by the ALF Juvenile Justice Collaboration Lab cohort. The incoming JJCL cohort will be introduced to ALF, to the outgoing JJCL class, and to ALF s networked action around the state. Intent is also to create an lasting annual forum for the Oregon juvenile justice system. ALF Oregon Juvenile Justice Collaboration Lab Action Learning Design The ALF Oregon Juvenile Justice Collaboration Lab is designed to develop deep bonds among the participants, to build awareness of the system from multiple perspectives and, ultimately, to generate collaborative solutions to vexing issues. The orientation retreat focuses on both relationship building and participants' ability to understand different views and perspectives. The program includes storytelling, listening, emotional intelligence, experiential learning challenges, and personal reflection. Subsequent monthly sessions hone skills in dialogue and conflict resolution as participants think together about the issues facing the juvenile justice system. Later sessions focus on personal and collaborative action planning to address specific issues. ALF alumni will mentor participants throughout the process to ensure the quality of the learning and development and accountability for action. The program design also will establish two lasting forums for collaboration in the juvenile justice arena. An October forum will grow each year to "cross-pollinate" the annual classes. We expect this forum will continue annually even after 75 program alumni gather in October The program will also set a pattern in place for a monthly teleconference focused on Oregon's juvenile justice system. The initial JJCL class will begin to meet virtually toward the end of their program as it works on its collaborative projects. Because of the deep bonds typically developed during ALF programs, a tradition of "check-ins" continues to bring alumni together over not just years, but decades. The draw of the check-in will convene alumni and provide a platform to host virtual forums on relevant issues facing the juvenile justice system. In addition, one-on-one mentoring by ALF Senior Fellows throughout the program will ensure the quality of the learning and development and accountability for action.